Fashion Friday: Well-Suited Style in Congo
- Author: Katrina Yulo
- Posted on: Friday December 4, 2009 at 3:00 PM
- Filed under: exclusive, fashion, sapeur, le sape, congo, suits, colorful dress
Wow. The Gentlemen of Bacongo are impressively dapper. They popped up on our radar due to the beautifully photographed book put together by Daniele Tamagni. Not only is it chock-full of style pointers, there are snippets from the Sapeurs themselves.
These stylish men are part of a movement called Le Sape (or if you want to be fancy, Le Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes, or the Society of Tastemakers and Elegant People.) And elegant they are- they’re in designer duds on a daily basis, sporting colorful scarves and belts to go with their handsomely tailored suits.
They do have to follow certain rules though- for example, they're only allowed to wear three colors at a time. All elements of an outfit are used to the full- nothing is simply for display. Say a cigar or a pipe was made part of an ensemble, he would have to light it regardless of whether he smoked or not.
Sapeur Michel couldn’t have said it better- "When the sapeur expresses himself through the harmony of his clothes, he is returning his admiration to God."
Interested in the book? Grab it here.
Via Cool Hunting and NY Times
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COMMENTS
“ if one is going to go ::: Le Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes ::: why not 'go all the way???' ..... exemplary photograph.... stylish..... 1 (mine berry own merry christmas pick) :::::: our 'dapper jazzy (or is it bluesy drum roll) compadre' .......i'd luvvvvvvv to smile at him and see him 'tip his hat' ! smiles 'gain. see the beige styles behind he,..... so all one colour??? catchy!!! yes!!!!! wooo hoooo ! luv it. such clean and fresh styles. * <3 ---------* ”
